5 years ago today, I started this blog called It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken with my very first (embarrassingly bad) post Simply the Best Tomato Sauce. (Apparently, I was overconfident from day 1)!
Way back then I had no idea that starting this blog would lead me to a complete career change leaving my job as art director to becoming a self-employed full-time blogger. Winning a competition and getting to film a cooking show with Food Network’s celebrity Chef Michael Smith. Writing my first cookbook Fuss-Free Vegan which now has over 150 5-star reviews on Amazon! And appearing on TV, radio, in magazines, on podcasts, and doing public speaking.
It all happened very slowly and gradually, with a lot of very hard work, but when reflecting on the years, it seems like a whirlwind of delicious vegan recipes, 1 million dishwasher loads, over 15,000 comments, almost 500 recipes (with several thousand failed recipe attempts), and a smile every morning as I open my computer to start the day. So, I'm celebrating today, my blogs birthday with a Vegan Confetti Cake!
Not only is it my blogs birthday but it also happens to be pride month, which makes this rainbow coloured cake even more celebratory! Celebrating the love of everyone.
Now to cake. Vegan Confetti Cake is a vanilla cake filled with sprinkles because... CUTE! When first writing this recipe I tried to use my Vegan Vanilla Cake recipe and just stirred in sprinkles. This didn't work too well. The cake was too fluffy and fell apart, and the sprinkles bled into a mess. So I did a lot of experimenting making this vanilla cake a little more dense (in a good way) to lock in those sprinkles, but still keeping it moist and fluffy by folding aquafaba into the batter.
The vegan confetti cake comes out perfectly sweet, incredibly moist, hard to resist delicious, and the dots of colour throughout the cake are just to die for adorable fun. Vegan confetti cake makes for a great birthday party cake or any celebratory occasion. I chose rainbow sprinkles, but you could alternatively choose all one colour of sprinkle, maybe for a gender reveal cake, or any colour combo you like... galaxy cake? The options and fun are endless!
To make Vegan Confetti Cake: in a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Now add the plant-based milk, light oil, and vanilla extract and stir to combine. It will make for a very thick batter, almost like cookie dough.
In another large bowl, use a stand mixer or hand beater to combine the aquafaba and cream of tartar until it forms stiff peaks. This will take about 3 to 6 minutes.
Now fold the aquafaba into the batter. The batter is thick and it will take a bit of time to combine the two, so be patient. When the batter is combined you can lastly add the sprinkles. Depending on the kind of sprinkles you have they may bleed, so working quickly, scatter the sprinkles over the surface of the batter and then quickly give it 2 to 4 stirs to combine. It's ok if the sprinkles aren't mixed in perfectly, they will do their thing in the oven, it's more important that they don't bleed.
A note on sprinkles. Not all sprinkles are vegan. They can sometimes include the ingredients confectioner's glaze or shellac, neither of which are vegan as they both come from insects. I found sprinkles at a bulk food store that were accidentally vegan, but you can also order vegan sprinkles online on Amazon, on Etsy, from Sweetapolita, or from Fancy Sprinkles, to name a few place.
Divide the batter evenly among the two pans. Bake for 35 to 42 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make vegan vanilla frosting: In a large bowl, use a stand mixer or hand beater to mix together the vegan butter, vegetable shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until fluffy. Add 1 - 4 tablespoons of plant-based milk as needed to reach desired frosting consistency.
Decorate cakes as desired. I covered the sides of my cake with sprinkles. I did this by placing the cake on a large baking tray (to catch any loose sprinkles), then grabbing handfuls of sprinkles, I lightly pressed them into the frosting on the sides of the cake working my way around and filling in any gaps until it was all covered.
Vegan Confetti Cake
Ingredients
Vegan Confetti Cake Bowl 1:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cup plant-based milk (such as soy or almond)
- ⅔ cup light oil (such as canola or vegetable)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Vegan Confetti Cake Bowl 2:
- ¾ cup aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas)
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ⅓ cup vegan sprinkles (plus more for decoration)
For the Vegan Vanilla Frosting:
- ½ cup vegan butter
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 - 4 tablespoons plant-based milk (such as soy or almond)
Instructions
To make the vegan confetti cakes:
- Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly grease two 8" baking pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt. Now add the plant-based milk, light oil, and vanilla extract and stir to combine. It will make for a very thick batter, almost like cookie dough.
- In another large bowl, use a stand mixer or hand beater to combine the aquafaba and cream of tartar until it forms stiff peaks. This will take about 3 to 6 minutes.
- Now fold the aquafaba into the batter. The batter is thick and it will take a bit of time to combine the two, so be patient. When the batter is combined you can lastly add the sprinkles. Depending on the kind of sprinkles you have they may bleed, so working quickly, scatter the sprinkles over the surface of the batter and then quickly give it 2 to 4 stirs to combine. It’s ok if the sprinkles aren’t mixed in perfectly, they will do their thing in the oven, it’s more important that they don’t bleed.
- Divide the batter evenly among the two pans. Bake for 35 to 42 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
To make the vegan vanilla frosting:
- In a large bowl, use a stand mixer or hand beater to mix together the vegan butter, vegetable shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until fluffy. Add 1 - 4 tablespoons of plant-based milk as needed to reach desired frosting consistency.
Nutrition
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Jill Nason says
Thank you for this amazing recipe!!! The first successful vegan cake that I have made (although I'm yet to find sprinkles here in Ireland that don't bleed)
I'm wondering though, how could I make it in to a chocolate cake? How much cocoa do you think? And would it need more sugar?
Thanks in advance 🙂
Sara A says
Love the cake! It's a little dense (not your fluffy/airy type of cake), but turned out great. No one could tell it was vegan.
Theresa says
Can I make all the components ahead of time and freeze them and then thaw and assemble them about a week later?
Ashley says
I made this cake for my daughter's 3rd bday at the beginning of April and everyone loved it! I have never been much of a cake person until your Ultimate chocolate cake and now this one!!! I am officially a cake lover! Great job Sam like always! Hope you are keeping safe and healthy!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! My boyfriend said the same thing about my cakes! 🙂
Caylie says
Hi! I made this last year and it was a huge hit! This year I would love to make it gluten free. Any suggestions?
Kylee says
Thanks for sharing this recipe, it looks great! What are your thoughts about range hoods? I'm trying to decide if I should get one.
Dylan says
Hi Sam,
Love this recipe! I've just baked my two halves for my housemates birthday. I didn't have cream of tartar so I substituted lemon juice which seems to have worked great. Just one question, I didn't have any vegetable oil so I had to resort to olive oil. The cake seems quite yellow but smells great - do you think this will have affected it badly?
Thanks for the recipe,
Dylan
Sam Turnbull says
You might taste the olive oil which might be a bit weird,but otherwise is should bake up the same. Enjoy!
Ella says
I want to try out this cake recipe this week, is it necessary to buy no salt added can of chickpeas or does a regular can of chickpeas work? Also is there a substitute for cream of tartar? Thank you!
Christel says
I made this cake for a friend's birthday and everyone loved it - and they were all non-vegans and shocked that it was vegan. Everyone thought I had bought it! I love making vegan things and proving to people that they can be delicious.
I loved the cake, however, only the yellow colouring of the sprinkles could be seen in the cake when cut. The blues and pinks had disappeared! Do you know possibly why this could have happened? I definitely quickly added them to the batter and only stirred a few times as suggested.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Christel. Oh wow that's awesome!! I have no idea why some of the sprinkles would disappear, I would try a different type of sprinkle next time. Hope that helps!
Tracy W says
Mine came out... crunchy. Any ideas? The inside is good but the outside is almost fried / really hard.
Sam Turnbull says
Sounds like it was a bit overbaked!
Sheri Reid says
Exact same thing happened to me even though I baked it for the minimum time stated in the recipe. Would definitely a lot sooner especially around the edges. That being said, the frosting was delicious!
Renee says
Hi Sam
How did you decorate the cake with the sprinkles all around the outside?
Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
I just picked up a handful of sprinkles and pressed them into the side of the cake. I put the cake on a large tray to catch all the sprinkles that fell. Enjoy!
Jo Moore says
Another winner, thank you Sam 🙂
Easy enough to make (my manual whisk of the aquafaba was a great workout lol), and the cake looked and tasted great. Went down a treat for my team's first day back at work together, and I had so many comments about the softness and moisture of the sponge - think we've got some aquafaba converts.
Sam Turnbull says
Thrilled you enjoyed it, Jo!
Brandy says
To make a double layer sheet cake, would I double the recipe?
Sam Turnbull says
Use a guide such as this one to convert the recipe. Enjoy!
Alyce says
First let me say that no one in my family are Vegans. I made this for my Granddaughter's 11th Birthday Cake. I have a grandson who cannot eat eggs or milk products due to allergies. I have tried other recipes without eggs and milk and they were edible but not very good. My family was upset when they found out I tried another vegan recipe. My granddaughter told me if the cake was bad I owed her a cake with milk ,eggs and butter. Well just let me say that this cake is fantastic and was a big hit with the whole family. So moist and tasty. My granddaughter informed me that I did not owe her a cake. My adult son who complained the most had to have a second piece. I made this cake and frosting exactly as the recipe was written. The can of chick peas I bought had no added salt. I needed to whip the aquafaba for the full six minutes. If you make this cake keep beating the frosting until it's light and fluffy. I used a stick of Country Crock Almond Plant Butter in the frosting, I tried Earth Balance before in frosting but it made the frosting taste too salty. I used Wilton Rainbow jimmies in the cake and they did not bleed at all. Thanks Sam for a Fantastic Recipe that was a big hit with the whole non Vegan Family !!! I did freeze a piece of this cake for my grandson to have next month at my son's birthday party.
Sam Turnbull says
Aww that's so wonderful, Alyce!! Glad it was a hit 🙂
Amanda says
My (almost 2 year old) daughter has milk and egg allergy and I went looking for a good birthday cake recipe and came across yours. We tried it out today in preparation for her upcoming birthday and it was fantastic! She loved it too! I don’t think the average person would even notice the “missing” eggs and cows milk! Thank you for a great recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
I've never heard anyone say "this cake tastes good, but I wish it tasted more like eggs"! Haha. So happy you loved the cake! 🙂
Ashley says
Hi! My daughter is actually allergic to chickpeas (Aquafaba) I normally use flax meal for substitutes. With the texture of the cake be compromised due to using a different egg replacing agent?
Sam Turnbull says
I would recommend to instead use my vanilla cake recipe which doesn't require aquafaba.
Yasmin says
Hello! I’d like to make this for my baby girls 1st birthday on Sunday! Do you know what size cake tin I should use if I want to make 20 servings (or more)?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Yasmin, a 2 layer cake like this should feed about 16 - 20 people depending on how small the slices are. If you want to make more I would make a third layer. Enjoy!
Taylor says
I made this for my boyfriends birthday last month. one of the easiest & yummy recipes i have ever used,it was so tasty & moist. i will be making it again for thanksgiving this year
Sam Turnbull says
Aww yay! Thrilled you loved it 🙂
Casey says
Do you know if using oat milk will result in a textural difference in the cake or frosting? I know it tends to be thicker than almond or soy milk. Thank you and can't wait to try this recipe!!
Sam Turnbull says
Oat milk will work just fine. Enjoy!
Marlene says
Hi, I made this cake for the first time today. I had to bake it twice as the first time it was still all gooey inside even though the knife came out clean. It looked better after the second time and still looked moist, but it was really crumbly. I let both layers cool down completely before taking them out of the tin but when trying to move off the parchment paper both started to break and one broke into pieces when I tried to lift it on top of the other. Any idea what I might have done wrong? The flavour was great so I'd love to try making it again.
Thank you,
Marlene
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Marlene, it's very difficult to know what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you. If the cake cooled after you baked it the first time, then you put it back in the oven, which could definitely result in a weird cake texture. Or it could have been something being measured wrong. Sorry I can't be more help!
Jennifer says
Hi I’m trying this out tonight. Do you ever do a jam layer along with frosting? Or is it not needed? Thanks
Sam Turnbull says
It's not needed but if you wish to put a jam layer between the two layers of cake, you are welcome to do so. Enjoy!
Mark Jeary says
Hi. I’ve tried a couple of your recipes and they’re wonderful. Could you let me know if your oven temperature stated is fan assisted or if I should reduce it?
Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
I don't use a fan in my oven. So happy you're enjoying my recipes, Mark 🙂
Brittany says
Hello! Forgive me if someone has already asked this! I would like to make this into cupcakes. Are there any modifications that should be made besides the baking time? Also how long do you recommend baking them? Thank you so much!! ❤️
Sam Turnbull says
The only modification would be the baking time, everything else would stay the same. I would keep an eye on them around the 18 minute mark and when they start looking cooked, test them by poking them with a toothpick. When the toothpick comes out clean they will be done. Enjoy!
Violeta Montero says
Hello, I want to use this recipe to make two one layer smash cakes for my daughter (4" round pans). Im going to half the recipe.. would the baking time be half as well? Im not an expert baker so just thought I asked. Dont really have time for error as her birthday is today. Also another question.. do you use unsweetend original dairy free milks?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Violeta, the baking temperature would be the same but the time will likely decrease. I'm not sure by how much but you will be able to tell when they are done when they are lightly golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Yes, unsweetened non-dairy milk or original non-dairy milk will both work well. Enjoy!
Amber says
Could I use cake flour in place of the AP or will this mess everything up?
Sam Turnbull says
Cake flour may make the cake fall apart a little as it is the weakest of the flours. I recommend sticking to the recipe as written for the best results. Enjoy!
Amber says
Thanks for the response! I have both flours, though I rarely make cake so thought I might try to use up my cake flour, but I don’t want a crumbly cake! so I’ll stick with AP, thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
For best results, it's always best to stick with the recipe as written, especially when it comes to baking. Enjoy!
Hailey Nickerson says
Excited to try this again! I made this cake last night and got disappointing, oily and under baked results, but I believe in this cake and am trying again! I think my issue was hand beating my aquafaba instead of using a mixer, and potentially adding too little sugar. My peaks were just not very stiff! I will update tonight with my results 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Hailey, with baking it's always very important to measure accurately and follow the directions as close as you can as baking is chemistry. It sounds like you have figured out what went wrong, I hope you get better results next time 🙂
Caitlyn says
Hi Sam!
I am surprising my boyfriend for his birthday by making him your vegan cake today! I have never baked a vegan cake so I have two questions:
1. I am going to be using two 6x3 inch pan. Would the time and temperature remain the same or do you recommend any changes for the smaller pan?
2. I was wondering if you've ever tried to use dairy free vanilla coconut milk for the batter and/or frosting. If not for this recipe, in other recipes and how this effects the taste and consistency of the cake.
Thank you so much!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Caitlyn, those are tiny pans and if you make this full recipe you may have extra batter. You can use this guide for your pans and hopefully it will help. Generally, the temperature stays the same but the time will change, the best test is the toothpick method. As for coconut milk, you are welcome to use the kind in a carton intended for drinking, but do not use the kind in a can which will be too heavy. It might add a slight coconut taste. Enjoy and happy birthday to your boyfriend!
Kathryn says
I’m so excited to make this - just one question! Cream of tartar is $9 a box where I live, is there a substitute for this? I want to avoid getting an expensive box of something I’ll never use again!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Kathryn, I haven't tried it myself but here is an article on how to substitute it. Cream of tartar helps the aquafaba whip up. You may be able to get good results without it but it might take a lot more whipping. Hope that helps!
Yulca says
Cream of tartar isn't readily available in my country, either, so I always use lemon juice or apple cider vinegar instead (about the same amount as c o t in the recipe). Works every time, it's the acid that helps stabilize the aquafaba peaks.
Sam Turnbull says
Great tip!!
tanyaa says
I read your blog..Nice post Thanks for sharing your informaiton
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks!
Gabbi says
Hi Sam, I made this for my sister’s baby shower and it came out beautifully! Both the sponge and the frosting tasted amazing and the crumbly sponge was so satisfying and just how you want a sponge to be. Thank you for the recipe!! Xxx
Sam Turnbull says
That's so wonderful, Gabbi! So thrilled you enjoyed it so much. It's one of my faves too 🙂
Bernadette Groves says
Just wondering why you do not mention anything about bone char in sugar processing? It seems to be fairly controversial. I had my cake all made for a lady at work. My first time making a vegan cake. Although I bake a lot. Someone mentioned about bone char. Thank goodness I checked the company out and my sugar was OK.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Bernadette, As far as I know, using bone char in sugar isn’t very common anywhere other than the US. Always good to double check with the brand you are purchasing. I use Redpath here in Canada and they say on their site that it’s vegan-friendly. A good tip is that organic sugar is always vegan.
Bernadette Groves says
Thank you forgetting back to me. I did find that it's really weird that Lantic/Rogers is kind of weird. Sugar processed in Montreal and Tabor do not use bone char, but the factory in Vancouver does.
Yasmeen says
Hey! I love this recipe and was on the hunt for a dairy free cake we could make. I do want to add eggs, do you happen to know how many eggs I should add and what I should substitute out? If you know I'd appreciate it, thanks!
Mariam says
The beauty of this cake is that it’s designed to not need animal products- including eggs. Unless there is some very specific reason why you want to add eggs, I’d skip them. They will throw off the recipe. Even if you’re not vegan, knowing you have a recipe that can be baked at a moment’s notice, no matter if you have eggs or not is such a blessing! The more and more we can learn to rely less and less on animal products, the better.
Maddie says
Can I use flax egg instead of aquafaba?
Sam Turnbull says
Not for this recipe.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Yasmeen, I only use and work with vegan ingredients and I do not recommend adding eggs to this recipe.
Uzma says
Hi,
Love your blog!! So glad I found you. I plan to make this for my son's first bday party next week. He's allergic to milk and eggs so this recipe works great! I have a VERY busy week at work next week so wondering, can I make the cake layers this weekend and freeze them as some people have mentioned? What should i freeze them in for best result and how long to thaw them before icing?
The bday picnic is at a forest preserve. Any tips on the best way to transport and store the cake?
Thanks
Uzma
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Uzma, yes you can freeze the layers and even the frosting ahead of time if you like. Here is an article that will guide you on how to freeze cake 🙂 Enjoy!
Jess says
Oh my gosh, this cake is right up my alley! I'm making it for my joint birthday with my son (1 for him, 40 for me). I have made the layers and frozen (needed to use aquafaba that I had from tinned chickpeas) and will decorate tomorrow. Just wondering, did you crumb coat before you frosted?
LOVE your blog and thank you for sharing your amazing recipes! Yay for vegan living and cooking becoming more mainstream.
xo
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Jess! I didn't bother crumb coating, but you are welcome too! And I agree, YAY!!!!
Beth says
Hi! I'm new to your blog and have been looking for a recipe just like this to celebrate my birthday! I was wondering how many your cake recipe makes? I saw it said "2" for 8" can pans and I wasn't sure how many that actually would serve. Would it serve 10-12 people? Thank you! Can't wait to try it!
Sam Turnbull says
According to this guide, it would serve about 20 people but of course, it depends on how big or small your slices are.
Eggless Sponge Cake says
Hi Sam, you are really charming and skillful girl!! Outside of the ease and flavor, I loved how cheerful it is. : }
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thank you so much!
Spencer says
Wow amazing receipe! The batter already tastes amazing. I baked this with 12 little pre-K students for a birthday and we cant wait to eat the cupcakes. Thatnk you for the wonderful blog!
For the icing: Will it work without the shortening?
xo
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you're enjoying it, Spencer. The frosting will work, but it won't be as stable as vegan butter melts easily. Make sure to keep everything cool, and store the cake in a cool place to prevent melting. Enjoy!
Catharine says
I made this yesterday for my daughter's birthday and it turned out beautifully!! Everybody was commenting on how moist and delicious the cake was. I think this will be my go-to birthday cake from now on. Thanks for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
That's wonderful!! So thrilled you loved it so much, Catharine 🙂
Jessica says
When I've made layer cakes before, I popped the layers into the freezer to make them easier to handle/ice. Would it be all right to do that with this cake too, or do you think leaving it in the freezer for too long would compromise the texture of the cake?
Sam Turnbull says
That should be just fine. Just make sure they cool completely at room temperature before freezing. Enjoy!
Rebecca says
This is an excellent recipe! I have made it twice for birthdays and my mom has requested it for hers as well. I’m the only vegan in my family so pleasing them with a vegan recipe is a major win.
Sam Turnbull says
Oh that's so awesome! Thrilled you love it so much, Rebecca, it's my favourite too 🙂
Miriam says
Do you think I could use coconut oil instead of shortening?
Sam Turnbull says
Coconut oil can melt easily at room temperature so if you give it a try be sure to keep the cake in a cool place or the frosting may melt. Enjoy!
Rebecca says
Thank you for this amazing and simple recipe! It's now my go-to for birthdays, special occasions and mid week treats - everybody loves it! I've pretty much abandoned putting sprinkles in the batter and just make it as a banging vanilla sponge. Most recently I made the buttercream with orange oil rather than vanilla and it worked a treat 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Oooh sounds delicious! So thrilled you love the cake so much, Rebecca 🙂
Ariel says
Awesome cake recipe. So easy. Will totally make it again. Thanks for another awesome recipe Sam!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!! You're most welcome, Ariel 🙂
Michelle says
Ok, so I’m doing this cake right now and the batter wasn’t cookie dough as you mentioned. I’m wondering if the Aquafina needs to be measured as a liquid or as a foam. I just got the 2/3 liquid straight from the can and after it was nice and fluffy poured the whole thing in my batter. Now I’m wondering if I did it wrong.
Sam Turnbull says
HI Michelle, the aquafaba should be measured as a liquid, you did it correctly. The dough will be thick like cookie dough before you fold in the aquafaba. Once folded it in will be much lighter and fluffier. Hope that helps!
Katie says
So excited to make this for my daughter’s birthday this weekend! Question: Have you made cupcakes for this particular recipe? (And if so do you know what the oven temp/cook time would be?)
Thank you!!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Katie, so glad you're excited! I have not made cupcakes with this recipe yet. It would work just fine, the oven temperature would be the same, the baking time will just be a little less. I would keep an eye on them around the 18 minute mark and when they start looking cooked, test them by poking them with a toothpick. When the toothpick comes out clean they will be done. Enjoy!
Kelly says
Hi,
I came across.this recipe yesterday and made a trial one which everyone loved. I have a severe egg allergy so I have no idea what cake usually tastes like, and my son's birthday tomorrow so am going to bake him a cake and finally get involved with that part of the celebrations. Thank you so much for the recipe - looking forward to trying out your other recipes
Sam Turnbull says
That's so wonderful, Kelly! I'm thrilled you get to enjoy the celebrations. As a former egg eater, I can assure you that this cake tastes just like any egg-based cake, you would never know the difference. If you want a fun experiment try my vegan toast dipping sauce recipe which tastes just like an egg yolk!!
Jenna says
I want to make this cake for my daughters birthday coming up, but she needs the recipe to be gluten free, can I replace regular flour with bobs red mill gluten free flour?
Sam Turnbull says
Gluten-free baking is a whole other beast and I'm not an expert at it. I have heard good things about Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 tho.
Kay says
I tried this recipe twice and followed the recipe exactly and both times came out flat and dense. I was hoping for the fluffiness that everyone described. I even went out and got new baking powder. I'm so sad :(. Any ideas on what went wrong?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Kay, it's difficult to know without being in the kitchen with you. Overmixing the batter can cause cakes to not rise. Or oven temperatures can often be wrong which could cause the cake to not rise, it's always a good idea to pick up an oven thermometer to be sure. I hope that helps a little!
Anjie says
I am so glad I found you! I have been searching for a recipe that I could successfully bake vegan. Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
I'm glad you found me too! I hope you love the cake 🙂
Melissa says
Can I use cane sugar? Is that the same as white sugar? Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
Absolutely! Enjoy!
Hazel says
Turned out amazing...just want to know can I keep in the fridge?
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it! You can store it at room temperature in a cool place, or in the fridge. Enjoy!
Jess says
Thanks! It turned out SO cute everyone loved it. I did strawberry filling between the 4 layers and the frosting from this recipe on the outside with a blue tint and lots of sprinkles ❤️ the cake was DELICIOUS! thanks again!!
Sam Turnbull says
OMG it sounds amazing!!
Jess says
I'm going to make this today for a new years cake I think I'm gonna add some blue food coloring to the frosting and use sparkler candles, and maybe make it a 3 or 4 layer cake. Can't wait I already know it will be fabulous.
Sam Turnbull says
Wow! That sounds epic. I hope it turns out beautifully for you, Jess 🙂
Celina McGregor says
Hi! Could I pour the entire batter into one 9x11 instead of 2 round cake pans?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, but it will just take a bit longer to cook, so keep an eye on it and do the toothpick test method to ensure it's done. Enjoy!
Elise says
Hi Sam!
I am hoping to make a dairy-free funfetti cake for a friend's birthday soon, and your recipe is just what I was looking for! Do you think the recipe would still work out if I added a little bit of strawberry puree for a fun flavor and a slight pink color? Or should I stay on the safe side and stick to the original recipe?
Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you found it, Elise! I would recommend sticking on the safe side and following the recipe as written. BUT I think it would be lovely to do a strawberry puree between the layers of the cake. Yum! Enjoy!
Andy says
I made this cake for a friend's birthday. I had never made icing before. I used my neighbours kitchen to make this because she used to be a baker and I know she has all the tools! It turned out fab even though the sprinkles bled. The cake was moist and fluffy, i doubled the vanilla on the icing, and it turned out great! Now I'm thinking about buying a mixer!
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome!! SO happy you enjoyed it so much, Andy. For the sprinkles, they will bleed which is why you just have to give it one or two very quick stirs to mix them in. You could also try a different type of sprinkle like a confetti sprinkle which won't bleed. Hope that helps!
Kim says
Hi, I would class myself as a quite experienced baker, but I never tried a vegan one. I tried this receipt today and followed the instruction, but it's just not right. The taste is lovely , but the texture is all wrong. It seems very claggy. What have I done wrong. Heeeelp!!!!
Sam Turnbull says
Oh no, sorry to hear that, Kim. It's difficult to know what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you. If it seems sticky then it might be underbaked. Hope that helps!
Katlynn says
This recipe is SO good! I made this today for my 20th birthday get together, and it was a huge hit with my family. They were all skeptical with it being a vegan cake (I’m the only vegan they all know), but were super impressed. I’m definitely going to be making this again. Maybe in cakepop form too. 😀
Sam Turnbull says
Happy Birthday Katlynn!! So happy you loved the cake so much 🙂
Ruchi says
Hi Sam!
I'm planning on making this for a birthday party very soon! Love, love aquafaba!! I was wondering if you had used 3/4 cup of reduced aquafaba or just straight from the can? If you used straight from the can, do you think reduced would work as well?
Thank you!!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Ruchi! I used straight from the can. I've never tried reducing aquafaba so I'm afraid I don't know what the results would be. Enjoy!
Marci says
Can flaxegg be used instead of the chickpea water?
Sam Turnbull says
No, not for this recipe. Aquafaba is a must. Enjoy!
Kat says
I love your frosting recipe but how do you get it to look so white? Mine always ends up with a yellowish tint.
Sam Turnbull says
The yellow-ish tint you are experiencing would come from the vegan butter and/or non-dairy milk you are using. (Assuming you are using white powdered sugar and white vegetable shortening). So perhaps your vegan butter is quite yellow? My go-to is Earth Balance.
Kat says
Okay thank you! I was using a yellow vegetable shortening so that’s probably why. Can I use this funfetti recipe to make cupcakes?
Sam Turnbull says
Ah there you go! Absolutely, they would just take less time to bake, so keep an eye on them. I'd guess about 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!
Lauren says
This recipe looks amazing! Could i possibly omit the sprinkles for a plain vanilla cake?? 🙂 xx
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks! For sure, or you could just try my vanilla cake recipe. Enjoy!
Tania says
Love this! Made a double batch to make a unicorn cake for a 7th birthday and it turned out amazing!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww beautiful! 🙂
Holly says
Hi Sam! I'm making this for my daughter's 2nd birthday and I accidentally put the aquafaba and the cream of tartar in with dried ingredients! What kind of mistake did I just make? Is it worth continuing or should I start over? Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
I would suggest starting over. Good luck!
Lauren says
What type of shortening do you use? Is crisco vegetable shortening okay? I’ve purchased earth balance before but have been having a hard time finding it lately! Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Yep, Crisco is what I use, as I think the Earth Balance brand got discontinued, unfortunately.
Chanel says
Hey Sam,
I'm so happy about your blog.
Just one question what is tartar???
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks, Chanel! Cream of tartar is a dry white powder used in this recipe helps stabilize the aquafaba foam. You can find it in the spice aisle of your grocery store or here on amazon.
Erin says
What can I use in place of eggs?
Sam Turnbull says
There are no eggs in this recipe so you are good to go! My blog is vegan, so there are never any eggs in my recipes, you can make any recipe you like from my blog without the worry of replacing eggs. Enjoy!
Srivani says
Made this into 24 cupcakes for my daughter’s 5th birthday. 17 minutes baking time was perfect! The cupcakes were a hit. Super moist and delicious. And the best part is there are cupcakes left over for me to enjoy after the littles go to bed! Thanks Sam for creating the perfect cake recipe to help us celebrate our daughter’s birthday. As soon as she saw this on your website, she knew this was the cake she wanted.
Sam Turnbull says
Awww that's wonderful! Happy 5th birthday! Honoured I could in some small way be part of the celebration 🙂
Kristin says
ahh! funfetti is my favorite type of cake, and the texture of this cake looks perfect. cannot wait to try this recipe! i just had a birthday, so i think it's still acceptable for me to celebrate, right!? happy belated blogaversary! thanks for all you do!
Sam Turnbull says
Absolutely!! I've had slices of this cake in my freezer and have been taking a slice out and celebrating even the tiniest of accomplishments! I folded the laundry... time to celebrate! Haha. Enjoy!
Shivani says
Hey Sam... Happy 5th birthday to IDTLC. I’ve been following for almost that long. I remember “the ex”, I remember you quitting your job to do this full time. I remember you doing the 100 ingredients/100 recipes. Gosh, feel like I’ve grown up with you (despite me being old enough to be your vegan babysitter!). You are a virtual part of our family. You only need one name around here (“Sam”... kinda like Cher, Madonna, Britney... only much better!). Anyway, my daughter wants this cake for her 5th birthday party (July 14) - how fitting... she’s been vegan as long as IDTLC! She wants cupcakes. How long do you think I would cook cupcakes for?
Sam Turnbull says
Awww you have been with me forever! So long that I know your real name and I remember meeting you in person! Thank you so much for being such a huge supporter of the blog (and me!), and happy birthday to your daughter! When converting a cake recipe to cupcakes the oven temperature stays the reduce the baking time by one-third to one-half. So keep an eye on them after about 17 minutes. They will be done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. a 2 layer cake will make about 24 cupcakes. I hope your daughter (and you) love them!! 😀
Srivani says
Thank you, Sam! One thing I absolutely LOVE about you and your blog is that you really do your best to respond to all the comments. Super personal. And whenever there’s a slightly controversial comment, you respond with such love and compassion (not attacking). Anyway, I’ll update when I make this recipe. Six 5-year old girls on Saturday... wish me luck... If you don’t hear from me ever again, They WON (I didn’t survive)! 😛
Sam Turnbull says
I never understood people who don't respond to comments. Isn't it "social" media? Haha. If someone takes the time to leave a comment I will take time to respond. I wish you luck! Keep extra sprinkles in your pocket and you can throw them to distract the kids and escape!
Mary says
This cake looks awesome! I want to surprise a friend for her birthday. What’s the trick to getting the sprinkles on the sides of the cake?! lol I think I’ll be making a mess for sure...love your recipes! Thank you 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
What a lovely surprise that would be!! To get the sprinkles on the side, I put my cake in the center of a large baking sheet (to catch the sprinkles) and then I just took handfuls of sprinkles and pressed them into the frosting on the sides of the cake. Repeating and turning the cake as needed until all sides are covered. Enjoy!
B says
Hey girl! Did you know that regular sugar isn't vegan(big gulp, I know). They mix it with bone char when they process it. Better to buy/use coconut, maple or yacon root sugar. I haven't used white sugar in years now but realize I've probably ingested the bone char when I've treated myself to the vegan bakeries around town. I also found out that brown and powdered sugar are made from the white processed sugar so they have the bone in there too. : / Bummer, huh. Hope this is helpful to anyone who didn't know.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi B, actually, a lot of brands of white sugar are totally vegan. Using bone char to refine sugar isn’t very common anywhere other than the US as far as I know, but I do check the sugar I buy to make sure. The standard brand I use here in Canada is Redpath and they say on their site that the sugar is indeed vegan-friendly. So you just want to check the brand you’re purchasing. A helpful tip is that all organic sugar is always vegan-friendly. Hope that helps!
Vin says
Perfect timing to make for Gay Pride Week‼️
Sam Turnbull says
Yes!! It's such a fun cake for pride 🙂
Amber Lihou says
Hi Sam - did you get the sprinkles from Bulk Barn? Can you also find cream of tartar there?
Sam Turnbull says
I did, yes! I imagine cream of tartar would be there, or it is available at any grocery store in the spice section. Enjoy!
Amber Lihou says
Thank you. Will be making it this weekend for Father's Day!
Danielle says
Hey Sam! Do you use unsalted butter for the frosting? If so, where do you buy your vegan unsalted butter from? I love your recipes!!!!
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks so much, Danielle! My go to brand of vegan butter is Earth Balance, and I use original when writing all of my recipes. 🙂
Cris Bolt says
Happy BLIRTHDAY Sam! I've been reading your newsletter for a while now and just bought your book. Love it! Keep up the great recipes and fun newsletters, I enjoy reading them.
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Cris, and thanks for saying hi!! So happy you are enjoying my recipes and book so much 🙂
Bethery says
Aw Sam! Whadaya wanna be when you grow up? You should open a vegan bakery. I know I'll find the perfect occasion to make this cake. Can't wait.
Congratulations on your 5th anniversary. (I've been following several years myself, about the time of the trip with the ex, schnook-of-a-boyfriend.) Anyway, I wish you many more years of blogging. You have so many backbone recipes,
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! I did want to open a bakery when I was a kid now that I think about it... I was more into baking breads at that time, however. Yes, you have been with me for a long time, Bethery! I can see that you have commented 92 times on my blog!!! So amazing. I really appreciate your support, it's what makes it all possible. 🙂
Bethery says
Wow, I didn't realize I'd commented that many times. Most ever of any blog I read. (You respond the most, too.) You're welcome and thank you for supporting my veganism in a omnivore world.
Sam Turnbull says
I love it! And so happy I could help in a tiny little way 🙂
yesenia roque says
Sam, you're the best! Happy birthday to IDTLC!! I definitely plan on making this. In fact, the first all vegan food I ever made was your Heart of Palm Calamari. Question: after I ate it, the grease hurt my tummy a little. Is there an alternative? I feel like I maybe cooked it wrong.
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much!! Fried foods are never good for us so maybe you are just more sensitive to that. I hope you love the cake!
Karen says
Happy 5th birthday IDTLC.com! Congratulations Sam!
Ironically, just yesterday my hubby planted the “let’s make cake” seed in my brain. Headed straight to your book and now I have a couple of frosting-related questions for you.
1. What do you suggest for non-hydrogenated shortening? I see Spectrum and Nutiva in a web search but I’ve never tried either.
2. We use Melt spread (similar to Earth Balance but yummier) from a tub. Do I need to use vegan butter in stick form for successful (and edible) frosting? I tried Earth Balance sticks for cookies in the past and it was like plastic, ick.
Can’t wait to hear your suggestions...the cake is awaiting your reply!
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Karen! I used to use Earth Balance non-hydrogenated shortening, but I believe that was discontinued. So I have been using regular shortening. If you want to opt for non-hydrogenated I am sure either of those brands will work great. I've never worked with Melt, so I am not sure what it's like, but I use Earth Balance in the tub (not the sticks), for all my baking needs. Hope that helps!
Karen says
That’s very helpful, thanks! Bring on the frosting! 😀
Sam Turnbull says
Woot! Haha
Ade says
Let me know how these work! I've been on the hunt for a non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening for ages!
I work in a small Health Food Store (where we carry Sam's book 🙂 and haven't found a supplier that we can get Nutiva or Spectrum shortening from! The whole thing is really bizarre! I miss Earth Balance!
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, so sad, I miss Earth Balance too!!
Gina Parks says
Yayyyy!!! What a great accomplishment and perfect celebratory cake for the occasion. We love you in our family and refer to all of your recipes as if we know you personally...for example, my husband will say "is this Sam's?" when I make something from your book or blog. We all love how personal you've made each recipe and your whole journey. Our young daughter is a huge fan and helps me cook all the time. Thanks for these 5 years and cheers to MANY MANY MORE!!
Sam Turnbull says
OMG I love that!! It makes me feel like I'm in the kitchen with you 🙂 Thanks so much for your support, Gina, thrilled you are enjoying the recipes so much 🙂
Kat says
Happy 5th Birthday! I don’t know what I’d do without your blog and all of the amazing recipes you put out. I can’t wait to try this one!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww that's lovely, thank you, Kat!
Kristi says
Happy Birthday to your blog Sam! The cake looks delicious!
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Kristi!! 🙂
Carol says
Happy 5th!!! I think the appropriate vegan 5th anniversary gift is 5 lbs of golden flax meal!!! Celebrate!
Funfetti Cake - how I yearned for one when I was a kid, but - nope, my mom always made her white cake with a whipped-cream icing. It was good, though! What I like is that you have given a festive cake recipe to families to make their celebrations really, well, ..Fun! I hope to make it for birthday "girls & boys"(I'll be in a Senior Apt bldg, 62 and above!), when I move into my new home this year - I want to be "Birthday Cake Lady", and this is perfect!
Sam Turnbull says
Bahahahaa, golden flax. Thanks so much for your support, Carol. I hope you enjoy your birthday cake 🙂
Ali says
Congratulations on your anniversary, Sam! And what a pretty cake to celebrate with! Looking forward to making it. Your vegan vanilla cake (which I used for your tiramisu). was delicious, so I’m confident this will be, too. Two questions: Does the aquafaba have to come from chickpeas canned in only water (no salt or preservatives)? And as I live in the GTA, I’m wondering if you found the vegan sprinkles at Bulk Barn.
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, Ali! Aquafaba can come from any old can of chickpeas, so no stress there. Yes, I did get the sprinkles at Bulk Barn. I had to ask to see the ingredients when I told them it was because I didn't want insects in my sprinkles, they tried to sell me cricket bars?? Haha. I also noticed that Cake Mate sprinkles here in Canada are accidentally vegan, but I do not believe they are vegan in the US, recipes for brands are often different when crossing the boarder.